Bottle carrier carton



Aug. 5, 1947. w. H. ALLEN- 2,425,140

BOTTLE CARRIER CARTON Filed March '26, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet '1 mmvrbn. 61:1; llz'am .11. Allen A rronnzys w. H. ALLEN 2,425,140

BOTTLE CARRIER CARTON I Aug. 5, 1947.

Filed March 26, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. William Allen a m M m w L \w L U Q My 1 a 8 m a a 1 Q, 6 a m w 1 f m m;

Y a a wmw mw m ma h, w 4 z tz L u m A Tronners 1947- w. H. ALLEN 2,425,140

' BOTTLE CARRIER CARTQN Filed March 26, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVt INTORQ William fiAllen Patented Aug. 5, 1947 BOTTLE CARRIER CARTON William H. Allen, Rutherford, N. 1., assignor to Empire Box Corporation, Garfield, N. .L, a corporation of Delaware Application March 26, 1945, Serial No. 584,875

This invention relates to cartons of the kind suitable for packaging and transporting bottles or the like.

Cartons of the character to which this inven# tion pertains, which are commonly referred to as bottle carriers, as heretofore constructed have been made from cardboard and similar material I rested'on the bottom wall of the carrier. In such a carrien-as heretofore arranged, side walls have extended up from the bottom wall and terminated in what have been referred toas bottle receiving sections which were disposed, in the erected carton, in spaced apart but more or less parallel relation with the bottom wall. These bottle receiving sections extended inwardly from the side walls and were joined, substantially medially of the carrier, to what is referred to as a handle section. In such carriers, the side walls have been joined to the bottom walls and the bottle receiving sections have been connected to the side walls and the handle sections along fold or score lines. In carriers of this character the weight of the bottles or the like is impressed upon the bottom wall when the handle section is grasped to lift the carrier and the thrust, incident to the weight of the bottles, impressed on the bottom wall has been transmitted indirectly to the handle section through the side walls and bottl receiving sections and, therefore, through the aforesaid fold or score lines. While carriers arranged in this manner have been extensively used and have enjoyed appreciable commercial success, it has been observed that unless such carriers are made of a relatively heavy and high grade material they.

may sometimes fail to perform in the manner intended due to breaking thereof particularly along the fold lines such as those along which th bottle receiving sections are joined to the side walls. This has been particularly tru in those carriers of the aforesaid character which have been made of relatively light material so as to be relatively inexpensive.

It is, therefore, among th primary objects of the present invention to enable the thrust impressed by the weight of bottles or the likeintroduced into a carton such as a bottle carrier to be directly transmitted from the bottom wall, on which the bottles or the like are rested, to the section of the carton or carrier that will be lifted 24 Claims. (Cl. 224--45) 2 when the loaded carton or carrier is to be transported.

customarily, bottles or the like are disposed in a carton or carrier therefor in two parallel rows and it is desirable that the bottles in the respectiv rows be held against contact one with the other for so to do mitigates against the likelihood of damage to the bottles when being transported and, hence, another important object of this invention is to effectively separate the rows of bottles or the like in a carrier therefor from each other so as to prevent the various bottles in one of the respective rows from coming into contact with the various bottles in another of the rows and to enable thisto be realized ina novel and economical manner is yet another object of this invention. Cartons or carriers of the nature to which this invention pertains are used by the bottlers of beverages such as soft drinks to convey the beverages from the place of bottling to the place of distribution and from the place of distribution to the place of consumption as, for example, in homes, and such carriers are desirably utilized to return the empty bottles or the like through the same channels, which is to say, from the consumer to the distributor and back to the bottling plant. It is desirable in view of such usage that the carriers be arranged in such a way as to enable use thereof a plurality of times and this entails so arranging the carrier so that it will be effectively reinforced in those portions whereat failure might occur, and to enable this to be realized in a carton or carrier of the aforesaid character is yet another obiect of this invention, and an object ancillary to the foregoing is to enable a carton or carrier of the aforesaid nature to be made from relatively inexpensive materlal and yet be capable of being used a plurality of times.

Cartons and carriers of the nature to which this invention pertains. as these have been arranged heretofore, have usually included a unitary section that afforded a handle portion and while arrangementsof this character have proven to be satisfactory, there are instances where resort may be had advantageously to other than a unitary handle portion and so to do in a novel and with any of a plurality of cartons or carriers; to so arrange the carton or carrier that the portions thereof to which a detachable handle arrangement is to be connected will be effectively reinforced so as to insure against failure of the carton or carrier in the portions thereof whereat a handle arrangement is connected thereto; and also, in selected instances, to enable a flexible handle to be permanently attached to the carton or carrier.

Inasmuch as many of the novel and advantageous features of the present invention may be utilized in a carton or carrier including a unitary handle portion, it is still another object of this invention to arrange the carton or carrier to include a unitary handle portion.

Yet other objects of this invention are to afford a novel arrangement for preventing displacement of the endmost bottles or the like in the rows thereof disposed in the carton or carrier of this invention; to so arrange bottle retaining portions at the ends of the carton or carrier that such portions may move into bottle retaining position as an incident to the erection of the carrier to have bottles loaded thereinto; to effectively separate the bottles in the respective rows thereof, one from the other; to include portions which will serve to maintain the carton or carrier erected prior to the introduction of bottles or the like thereinto; and to provide a carton or carrier of the aforesaid nature of-siinple and economical construction and which will be effective and longlived in use.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments and the principle thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a blank for one form of the novel carrier of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an erected carton formed from the blank shown in Fi 1:

Fig. 3 is an eievational view, in which portions are broken away, of the carton or carrier shown in Fig. 2 in collapsed condition for shipment;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the carton or carrier as illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is atransverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a blank for another form of the novel carrier of the present inven-' tion:

Fig. '7 is a perspective view, similar to Fig. 2, showing an erected carton or carrier formed from the blank illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 on Fig. 7:

Fig. 9 is another perspective view showing a further modified form of the novel carrier of the present invention;

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are each fragmentary perspective views illustrating the connection of a separate handle to the carrier of this invention;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line I3-l3 on Fig. 12; V

Fig. 14 is an elevation of still another blank for another form of the novel carrier of this invention.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of an erected carrier formed from the blank shown in Fig. 14;

. V Fig. 16 is an elevation view, in which portions cated from a blank of cardboard or like material that is cut and scored in a manner to be explained to embody two identical parts or sections that are joined together in the blank along a medially located fold or separation line It! formed by aligned cuts and slits so proportioned as to hold the sections together during manufacture and yet enable ready separation of the sections after or near the completion of the assembly operations. Each section on the opposite sides of the medially located fold line I 0 has a portion at the free end thereof that respectively affords the side walls II and i2 in the erected carrier. Immediately inward of the side wall ii is a bottom section It which is joined to the inner end of the side wall H along a fold or score line it. Another bottom section I 5 is afforded immediately inwardly of the side wall i2 and is joined to this side wall along a fold or score line It. A center partition I! is afforded in the blank immediately inwardly of the bottom section l3. and this partition is joined to this section along a fold or score line l8. Another center partition I9 is afforded immediately inwardly of the bottom section l5 and this partition is joined to this section along a fold or score line 20. A bottle receiving section 2i is afforded immediately inwardly of the center partition I! and is joined thereto along a discontinuous or sectional fold or score line 22. Another bottle receiving section 23 is provided immediately inwardly of the center partition l9 and is joined to such partition along a discontinuous or sectional fold or score line 24. A fold or score line 25 is provided at the inner end of the bottle receiving section 2|, and in cooperation with the fold or score line in defines a glue flap 26. A fold or score line 21 is afforded at the inner end of the bottle receiving section 23. and in cooperation with mediately located fold or score line it defines a glue flap 28.

Flaps 29 and 30 are provided along opposite edges of the side wall H and the bottom section l3 and are respectively joined to this wall and section along fold or score lines 3| and 32. An inclined score line 33 extends across the flap 29 to the adjacent end of the score line it, and a similar inclined score line 34 similarly extends across the flap 30. A slit 35 extends angularly across the flap 29 from the juncture of the score lines 33 and H for but a relatively short distance for a purpose to be explained hereinafter, and a similar slit 38 is arranged in a like manner in the flap 30 relativev to the score lines 34 and I4. As best shown in Fig. 1, the flaps 28 and 30 terminate well inwardly of the free edge of the side wall II and also slightly inwardly of the inner edge of the bottom section I3. The score line 33 and silt 35 divide the flap 29 into two flap sections 29;: and 291/ and the score line 34 and slit 38 divide the flap 30 into two flap sections 300: and 30:1. The flap sections 29m and 300: are associated with the side wall I I while the sections 2911 and 3011 are associated with the bottom section l3.

While portions of the side wall l2, bottom section l5, and center partition I8 are broken away the parts associated with the side wall l2 and bottom section l5 correspond to those described hereinabove with reference to the flaps 28 and 38 on the side wall H and bottom l3, a similar reference character is applied except that the sufilx a is added thereto.

Flaps 31 and 38 are provided along opposite edges of the center partition l1 and the bottle receiving section 2|, these fiaps being respectively joined to this partition and section along fold or score lines 33 and 48. Moreover, an inclined score line 4| extends across the fiap 31 from the adjacent end of the score line 22, and a relatively short slit 42 extends for a short distance across the flap 31 in angular relation with the score line 4| and from the adjacent end of the score line 22. An inclined score line 43 extends across the flap 38 from the adjacent end of the score line 22 and a relatively short slit 44 extends for a short distance across the flap 38 in inclined relation with the score line 43 and from the adjacent end of the score line 22. Corresponding ends of the flaps 31 and 38 are chamfered away from opposite ends ofthe score line l8 and the opposite ends of these flaps are also slightly chamfered away from opposite ends of the score line 25, 42 divide the fiap 31 into flap sections 31a: and 311/ and the score line 43 and slit 44 divide the flap 38 into sections 381: and 381 The flap sections 31:: and 380: are associated with the center partition |1 while the sections 31g and 381/ are associated with the bottle receiving section 2|.

Flaps corresponding to the flaps 31 and 38 are provided along opposite edges of the center partition l9 and the bottle recelving'section 23 and are arranged in the same manner as has been described hereinabove with reference to the flaps 31 and 38, and where the parts associated with the center partitions l9 and the bottle receiving section 23 correspond to thosedescribed hereinabove with referencet'o the flaps 31 and 38, a

similar reference character is applied except that the sufiix a i added thereto. t

' Bottle receiving openings are defined in the relspective bottle receiving sections by cutting or slitting and scoring these sections transversely thereof, and in so doing the bottle receiving section is formed to provide a plurality of narrow I transverse webs having bottle separating flaps associated therewith, and in addition, handle at- =taching flaps or cars are provided as will now be explained. Thus, the bottle receiving section 2i is cut or slit along the lines-85, 36 and d1 which are angularly related to each other to be substantialh, complementary to the outline of a bottle to be" received and carried'in-thecartcn or carrier, the slit tdextending in parallel relation but inwardly of the score line 38, and the "slit 85 extending in angular relation with the slit 86 from one end thereof to the score line 22. The

slit 81 extends from the other end of the slit 16 to the score line 25', the slits 85 and 81 respectively in the extend of the slit t8 and terminates in spaced relation'with the score line 22. Another slit 5| extends from the inner end or the slit 58 to the juncture of the score lines 48 and 22. Thus the slits 45, 46, 41, part of the slit 48, the slits 58 and 5| define an ear or tab 52 which is free of the blank except where it is joined to the partition l1 in an unscored or normal relationship between the sections of the discontinuous score line 22.

Likewise. the slits 48, 58 and 5| define a flap 53 The score 'line 4| and slit v which is free of the blank except where it is joined thereto along the score line 43. Both the ear 52 and the flap 53 are thus capable of being i'olded out of the plane of the bottle receiving section 2|, as will be explained presently.

Slits 54, 55 and 56 are related to each othe and the score lines 48, 22 and 25 in the same manner as that in which the slits 45, 48 and 41 are related to the score lines 38, 22 and 25. Yet further, a slit 51 extends along the score line 25 in the same manner as that in which the slit 48 extends along this score line. Moreover, a score line 58 extends transversely across the bottle receiving section 2| in parallel but spaced apart relation with the score line 49. Still further, a slit 58 extends transversely across the bottle receiving section 2| from about midway in the slit 51, and a slit 68 extends across the bottle receiving section from the inner end of the slit 58 to the juncture of the score lines 58 and 22. Thus the slits 54,55 and 56, a part of the slit 51, and the slits 59 and 68 define an ear 6|, while the slits 51, 59 and 68 define a flap 62 that is similar to the flap 52 but is disposed in a reversed position.

Slits 62, 63 and 64 are respectively formed to be parallel to the slits 45, 46 and 41, the cut 63 lying in the score line 48; Yet further, cuts 55,

:66 and.81 are formed to lie parallel to the cuts 54, 55-and 58, the. cut lying in the score line 58. A cut 68 extends along thescore line 25 between adjacent ends of the cuts 64 and 61.,

' line 22.

In arranging the bottle receivingsection- 2| in the above described manner, the space between theslit 85 and the slit 63 on the score'line83 is determined by the size of bottle that is to be disposed in'the carrier, for when the car 52 and the flap E93 are moved out of-the plane of-the-bottle receiving section 2 |,--an opening '18, Fig. 2, is defined through which a bottle may bepassed to be rested 'onthe bottom-wall I3: Yet further, the

is such that when the carts isfolded out of the plane of the bottle receiving section 2| an opening 15, Fig. 2, is defined which will accommodate a. bottle of a given size. Yet further, when the ear 6| and the flap 62 arefolded out of the'plane of the bottle receiving section: 2|, the bottle receiving opening 12, Fig. 2,"is defined which-is adapted to receive a bottle of a given size, and to this end the space between the cut 66 and 55 is determined by the size'of the bottle to be accommodated.

'An arrangement similar to that described here: inabove with reference tothe bottle receiving'section 2| is afforded in the bottle: receiving section 23, and elements in. the bottle receivingsection 23 that correspond to elements in the bottle receiving section 2| to which a reference character hasbeen applied in the description'of the'bottle receiving section 2 i have a similar reference char- 2,4as,14o

acter applied thereto where these elements appear in the bottle receiving section 23 except that where added thereto. a

In the fabrication of a carton or carrier from the blank shown in Fig. 1, the blank is folded in a manner to be described presently so as to thereby afford the carton or carrier of this invention in collapsed condition as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Prior to the time any of the side walls or bottom sectionsare folded relative to the other elements of my carton. the flaps as 29 and 30, 31 and 38,3111 and 38a, and 290 and 30a are folded, along the fold lines by which these flaps are connected to other elements of the carton, over onto the aforesaid faces of these other elements or sections as these appear in Fig. 1, such folding of the flaps being effected either simultaneously or as an incident .to operations entailing the sections of the blank to which these flaps are attached.

Once the flaps 31a and 38a have been folded over onto the center partition is and bottle receiving section 23, and the flaps 29a and 30a have been folded over onto, the bottom section i5 and side wall i2, the bottom section l5 and side wall i2 are folded along the fold or score line 20 toward the faces of the center partition i9 and the bottle receiving section 23 shown in Fig. 1, to thereby dispose the free marginal edge of the side wall l2 over the face of the glue flap 28. and this marginal portion and this glue flap are adhesively or otherwise suitably united. Thereafter the glue flap 26, the bottle receiving section 2i and the center partition I! are folded over onto the faces of the bottom section l3 and side wall i I appearing in Fig. l, the sections being folded along the score line IS in this operation, and the flaps 31 and 38 and 29 and 20 will have previously been folded inwardly as explained hereinabove. Such folding along the fold line l8 brings the glue flap 28 above the marginal portion along the free edge of the side wall Ii and thereupon this marginal portion and glue flap are adhesively or otherwise suitably united.

At this time when the operation has been carried out as thus far described, the faces of the center partitions i1 and I9 opposite those appearing in Fig. 1 are disposed upwardly. and thereafter the blank is folded along the fold or score line I. to bring these upwardly disposed faces of the partitions l1 and I! into engagement one with the other, and these faces of these partitions are adhesively or otherwise suitably united, and the result. of this is to afford a collapsed carton or carrier such as that illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. As will hereinafter appear, it is essential that the edges of the glue flaps 28 and 28 that are initially joined by the fold or separation line ll be separated along the line II in order to facilitate and enable erection of the carton, and this is accomplished in the present instance by forming the line III so that the slits thereof are relatively long and the intermediate scored portions are relatively short. With this arrangement, the two sections are properly heldtogether during the folding of the stock along the line lfl, and yet the score portions of the line III are broken or materially ruptured by the time the final pressure rollers have operated on the assembly.

When the carton or carrier as thus assembled is to be erected to have bottles disposed therein, the free marginal portions of the side walls H and I2 and the attached glue flaps 26 and 28 are moved outwardly away from each other sufficiently to disclose the upper free edges of the now united ears as 52 and 52a, 88 and 68a, and GI and Ma, and upon the application of pressure to these portions, the side walls pivot downwardly and away from each other about the fold or score lines Iii, ll, l6, I8, 20, 22, 24, 25 and 21, until the bottom sections it and iii are disposed to lie in a common plane shown in Fig. 2, and the bottle receiving sections 2| and 23 are disposed in spaced apart but parallel relation with the bottom wall sections l3 and 15 respectively. This causes the adhesively united ears 52 and 52a, 69 and 69a and Bi and Ma to extend upwardlyirom the bottle receiving sections medially between the side walls II and i2, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and such upward projection of these ears causes these ears to extend well above the free edges of the side walls II and i2 so that the now aligned openings 13 and 13a, 14 and 14a and i5 and 15a are disposed in such position as to facilitate the attachment of a handle thereto.

Moreover, in the course of such erection of the carton the bellows folds afforded by the score lines 3335 and 3l36 cause the sections 291/ and 301 of the flaps 29 and 30 respectively to move into upwardly disposed positions along the opposite ends of the bottom wall 13. Similarly, the corresponding bellows folds that are afforded in the flaps 29a and 30a cause the sections 2911a and 301m to move into upwardly disposed positions as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 at opposite ends of the bottom section I5. Thus these upstanding flaps are positioned to serve as bottle retaining means to prevent outward movement of the lower ends of the bottles disposed in the carrier.

The bottle retaining flaps 3111 and 381/ at opposite ends of the bottle receiving section 21 are also moved automatically into the desired downwardly projecting positions, and this is effected by the bellow folds afforded by the fold lines "-42 and "-44. A similar action takes place in respect tothe bottle retaining flaps 3111a and 3811a, so that when the erection of the carton is completed, all of the bottle retaining flaps are disposed in the proper positions.

After the carton has thus been erected, the bottle separating flaps 53, 53a, 62 and 62a may be bent downwardly into their operative positions, as shown in Pig. 2 of the drawings, thus to effectually separate the bottles that may be disposed in adjacent bottle receiving openings. In this connection it will be observed that the partitionwall formed by the partition sections i1 and It is effective to separate the bottles that are disposed in the two rows on opposite sides of the carrier.

While different types and kinds of handles may be associated with the upwardly projecting ears or flaps 52, ii and en, a handle 11 has been illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings that is made from relatively light wire. This wire has a central twisted portion II that terminates in a hook 19 at its lower end, and thi hook is extended through the aligned openings 14 and Ila. At the upper end of the twisted portion I8, the ends of the wire of the handle 11 are extended in opposite directions as indicated at and 8|, and directly above or in alignment with the openings in the two end handle portions, the portions 80 and ii of the wire of the handle are bent downwardly as at 82 and 83. At the lower end of the portion 82, a hook I4 is provided that is extended through the openings 13 and 13a, while a hook at the lower end of the portion 83 is extended through the aligned openings 15 and 15a. Thus the handle 11 serves to support the weight of the invention a blank, shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings,

is made from cardboard or like material so as to afford duplicate sections or parts that are disposed in reversed positions on opposite sides of the central transverse separation or fold line H0. The section on one side of the separation line IIO has a side wall III, a bottom section II3 joined to one edge of the side wall section III by a fold line H4, and a partition section joined to the other edge of the bottom wall section II3 by a fold line II8. At the other edge of the partition section II1, a bottle receiving section I2I is provided, and this bottle receiving section is joined to the partition section II1 by a discontinuous fold or score line I22. At the other edge of the bottle receiving section I2I, a discontinuous fold or score line I25 is provided that defines this edge of the bottle receiving section I2I and is disposed in spaced relation to the separation line H so as to afford a glue flap I26.

The other section of the blank shown in Fig. 6

has a side wall section I I2 joined at one edge to a bottom wall II5 by a fold line 5, while a partition section I I9 is joined to the other edge of the bottom section II5 along a fold lineJ20. Atits other edge the partition section I I9 has a bottle receiving section I23 joined thereto by a discontinuous foldline I24." The other edge of the bottle receiving section I23 is defined by a discontinuous fold line I21 that is spaced from the separation line I I0 so as to provide a glue flap I23.

Along the opposite side edges of the side wall section III and the bottom wall 3 flaps, I29 and I30 are formed and these flaps are joined to'the opposite sides oi the sections I I I and I I3 by score lines I3I and I32 respectively. The flap I29 is divided into two sections I291: and I29y by angularly related score lines I33 and I35 that afford a bellows fold in the flap I29 in substantially the same manner as in the previously described embodiment. The flap I30 is divided into sections I30a: and I30y by score lines I34 and I36 that are also disposed in an angular relation so as to afford a bellows fold arrangement. Along the opposite end edges of the partition section H1 and the bottle receiving section I2I, flaps I31 and I38 are provided, and these flaps are joined to the end edges of the sections H1 and H! by fold lines I39 and I40 respectively. The flap I31 is divided into flap sections I311: and I311 by angularly disposed score lines I and I42 that are arranged to meet at the score line 22 so as to afl'ord a bellows tom receiving section I23 and similar. structural elements of these flaps are identified by the same reference characters with the suflix a" added in each instance. Flaps|29a and I30a are provided along the side wall section H2 and the bottom wall section H5, and similar structural elements of these flaps are identified by the same reference characters with the suflix "a added in each instance. 1 I

It will be observed that the elements of the blank shown in Fig. 6 that have thus far been described are identical with'the corresponding elements of the carton shown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, and the same reference characters have been applied with the exception that the prefix 1 has been added in each instance. However, in the carrier shown in 'Figsjfi to 8 of the drawings, the formation of the bottle receiving sections I2I and I23 is different than the construction of the bottle receiving sections 2| and23 of the previously described embodiment, and these differences of construction are such that while three bottle receiving openings are provided in each of the bottle receiving sections, the carrier is formed so as to have but two upwardly extending sup: porting or handle flap these being formed from portions of, the material that are taken from the bottle receiving openings at opposite ends of the bottle receiving sections. Generally considered, another structural feature that is incorporated in the bottle receiving sections I2I and I23 affords added cushioning between the adjacent bottles of each row, and the means that afford such cushioning are so formed as to cooperate with the partition walls and the side walls so as to maintain the carton in an erected condition, thereby to facilitate the erection and loading of the carrier. i

Thus, in the bottle receiving section I2I, the material is so cut and formed as to aiford three bottle receiving openings I10, HI and I12, while i the bottle receiving section I23 is so formed as to afford bottle receiving openings I10a, I1 I a and In forming the bottle receiving opening I 10, slits I45, I46 and I41 are formed in substantially the same manner as in the previously described embodiment of the invention, while a slit I40 is provided that extends to the right in alignment with the discontinuous fold line 25 for a relatively short distance so as to merge with the slit I50 that forms one border of a bottle cushioning flap I53. It will be observed that one end of the bottle cushioning flap I53 is defined by an arcuate slit I5I that extends from the juncture of the fold line I22 and a fold line I49, and moreover, this fold line I49 is continuous from the fold line I22 to the fold line I25. At the other end of the bottle cushioning flap I53, an arcuate slit I 90 is provided that extends from the 'slit I50 to beyond the slit I40 and thus into the material of the glue flap I26. The slit I90 terminates in an angu'larly located slit I9I. that extends to the juncture of the fold lines I49 and I25, thereby to fully define the free edges of the bottle cushioning flap I53 which, in the erected carton, may be bent downwardly abouta horizontal axis defined by the fold'line I49. The slits I45, I46, I41, I48, I5I, I50 and I90 serve to define a supporting or handle flap I52 which in the erected carton, will project upwardly above the level of the bottle receiving sections in substantially the same manne as in the previously described embodiment of the invention. V

The other end bottle receiving opening I12 is defined in substantially the same manner as the bottle receiving opening I10, the arrangement of the cuts and slits however being re- I by a fold line I58, and slits I58 and I58 cooperate with the fold line I58 in partially defining a bottle cushioning flap I82. The edge orthe bottle cushioning flap 82 that is adjacent to the glue flap I25 is defined by an arcuate slit I88 and a slit I8I' that correspond respectively with the slits I88 and I8I to so form the bottle cushioning flap I82 that it extends into the area of the glue flap I28. Thus the bottle cushioning flap I82 may, in the erected carton, be bent into a downwardly projecting relationship wherein the pointed end I82 defined by the slits I80 and I8I will bear against the adjacent side wall III to thereby act in maintaining the bottle carrier in its erected condition. The arrangement of slits that is thus utilized in affording the bottle receiving opening I12 and the bottle cushioning flap I82 serves also to afford asupporting flap IN or handle portion that in the erected carton will project upwardly as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

It has been pointed out hereinbefore that the carton or carrier disclosed in Figs. 6 to 8 embodies but two handle portions or flaps, and the material that is taken from the bottle receiving section in affording the bottle receiving opening "I is.utilized to afford additional bottle cushioning means that act between the central bottle and the end bottles. Thus a pair of arcuate slits I88 and I84 are extended from spaced positions along the score line I48 and in opposite directions so as to meet a central score line I85 that is disposed parallel to and midway between the score lines I48 and I58. This serves to define a bottle cushioning flap I88 that may be bent along the score line I48 into a downwardly extended position. Similarly, a pair of arcuate score lines I81 and I88 are extended from spaced positions on the score line I58 so as to meet the central score line I85, and this serves to define a bottle cushioning flap I88 that may be bent along the score line I58 into a downwardly extended position, as shown in Figs. '1 and 8.

It will be observed in Fig. 6 of the drawings that the score lines I88, I84, I81 and I88 are arranged to meet the central score line I85 at points that are spaced apart in an amount greater than the spacing of the score lines I 22 and I25. Thus each of the bottle cushioning flaps I88 and I88 has end portions or corners 288 that extend into the material of the glue flap I28, while similar corners 20I are provided on the other end edges of the flaps I88 and I88 that extend into the material 01' the side wall II1. Thus when the carrier is erected, as will hereinafter be described in greater detail, the movement of the bottle cushioning flaps I88 and I88 into their downwardly projecting positions serves to engage the corners 288 and 28I in firm frictional contact with the side wall III and the partition wall II1. This frictional contact serves to hold the flaps I88 and I88 in their downwardly projecting positions and since the points of such engagement are disposed substantially below the plane of the bottle receiving section I2I, the flaps I88 and I88 serve to maintain the side wall III in a spaced relationship with respect to the partition wall H1, and this action serves to maintain this section of the bottle carrier in its erected condition. The corners I82 and I82 of the flaps I58 and I52 have a similar retaining action, since their corners I82 and I82 have firm frictional contact with the side wall III, and thus the flaps I53 and I82 remain in their downwardly extended positions wherein they act to maintain the bottle receiving section and the side wall I I I in a substantially right angular relationship.

The other bottle receiving section I28 is formed in a similar manner, and the same reference characters with the sumx "a" have been utilized in identifying the corresponding parts. Thus when the bottle cushioning flaps I58a, I82a, I88a and I88a are moved to their downwardl rojecting positions in the course of erection of the carwith a wire handle I11.

ton, this section of the carton will also be maintained in the desired erected relationship.

The erection of the carton shown in Figs. 8 to 8 will of course cause the bottle retaining flaps I31y, I88u, I311 a and I 3811a to be moved to their downwardly projecting positions, while the bottle retaining flap I281l, I l28ya and I38ua will be moved automatically to their upwardly projecting positions with respect to the bottom walls of the carrier.

While different kinds of handles may be associated with the flaps or handle portions I52 and IN. the carrier shown in Figs. 6 to 8 is provided zontal central portion with downwardly projecting side portions I82 and I83, and as herein shown these side portions are offset so as to afford a relatively narrow hand engaging portion and yet dispose the hooks I84 and I85 in position to engage openings I18 and I15 that are formed in the ears of flaps I52 and I8I respectively. It will be observed that the openings I13 and I15 are somewhat elongated in a vertical direction, while the free ends of the hooks are also made relatively long. With this relationship of the parts, the hooks may rest on the lower ends of the openings I13 and I15 when the carrier is not in use, and this disposes the horizontal hand engaging portion I 11 of the handle at substantially the level of the tops of the bottles disposed in the carrier. Hence it is possible to stack one carrier directly upon the other, and yet, when the carrier is to be transported, the hand engaging portion I11 may be readily grasped and withdrawn into an upwardly spaced relationship with respect to the tops of the bottles. This enables the user to fully grasp the hand engaging portion I11, and such lifting of the handle engages the hooks I84 and I85 with the upper ends of the slots I13 and I15.

The bottle carrier of the present invention may be constructed with the bottle receiving sections formed to afford bottle receiving openings and bottle retaining and bottle cushioning flaps similar to those included in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, but with only two supporting or handle flaps, and such an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 9 oi the drawings. In this embodiment of the invention, the carrier has the elements formed generally similar to the corresponding elements included in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and corresponding reference numerals with the prefix "2 have been utilized to identify correspending elements of structure. In this embodiment of the invention however the supporting flaps 252, the handle flaps 252 and 252a and the handle flap 28I and 28Ia are formed so as to be imperforate, or in other words the openings such as the openings 18 and 15 have been eliminated. Thus with this embodiment of the invention, a

This handle has a hori-' to the slits 62 and 65 of Fig. 1.

handle 211 is provided that is made from a relatively heat/y woven tape and the ends thereof are extended into position between the flaps as 252, 252a, 26! and-261a that constitute the supporting means for the carrier. Thus one end of the tape or handle 21.1 is extended between the flaps 252 and 252a, as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, and the end of the tape or handle issecured in this relation by adhesive means at the time when the two flaps 252 and 252a are secured together. Similarly the other end of the handle 212 is disposed between the flaps 26l and 26la so as to be secured therebetwee'n by adhesive means when these two flaps are secured together. I

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 9, the central handle portion such as was afforded by the flaps 69 and 69a in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5 has been eliminated. and this is accomplished by forming a slit in the blank 50 as to connect the slits which correspond Thus when the carrier is in its erected condition, the upper edges of the walls 211 and 219 are exposed as at 22A, these edges being aligned with the fold line 22.

It will be recognized of course that the handle construction shown in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings may be utilized when desired in the carriers disclosed in Figs. 1' to 5 or Figs. 6 to 8 of the drawings.

The handle construction may also take other forms, and one such alternative form of handle construction is illustrated in Fig. 11 of the drawings. Thus in Fig. 11 the flaps that afford one of the handle portions have been identified by the reference characters 52A and 52B, and these flaps may constitute a handle or supporting flaps of any one of the embodiments of the invention heretofore described. The flaps 52A and 52B are formed in the same manner as in Fig. 9, and the assembly of the carton is completed prior to the association of a handle means therewith. Thus in Fig. 11 a handle 211A is provided that is made from a heavy woven tape, and one end of this handle is placed against the face of the flap 52B and is secured thereto by staples S that are passed through the tape and through one or both of the flaps 52Aand 5213. Thus the handle 211A is effectually joined to the supporting flaps 52A and 52B, and this assembly may be performed at any time after completion of the folding and.

gluing operations that are performed on the car- IleI.

Another form of handle construction that may be utilized with any one of the previously described embodiments of the invention is shown in Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings. Thus in this construction or embodiment, the flaps that form the supporting portions of the carrier have been identified by the reference characters 520 and 52D, and these h'andle portions may constitute the handle portions of any one of the carriers hereinbefore described, the flaps or handle portions 52C and 521) are secured together adhesively or by other means, and a metallic grommet G is passed therethrough and is flanged on opposite ends so as to engage the exposed faces of the flaps 52C and 52D. The grommet G therefore aii'ords an opening through the flaps 52C and 52D through which a handle means such as a handle 11A made from stringer heavy cord may be passed. The handle 11A would of course be passed through a similar grommet in the other pair of supporting flaps disposed in the position of the flaps 261 and 26 IA, and thereby a simple and effective handle is afforded by the carrier. Th'e grommetted v 14 construction of Figs. 12 and 13 may also be advantageously utilized where a handle is used that is made of wire, such for example as the handle I11 of Fig. 6. I

The carrier of the present invention may also be embodied in a construction that affords an integral cardboardhandle that extends upwardsponds in function to the separation line 10 of the carrier shown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings. As will be evident from a consideration of the blank shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings, this embodiment of the carrier is formed from a blank that has two similar sections that are initially connected along the transverse separation line 3H1. At the edge or end that is remote from the separation line 3"], one section of the blank has a side wall section 3!! that is joined along a fold line 314 to one edge of a bottom wall section 3i3. The other edge of the bottom wall section 313 is connected to a partition wall 311 along a fold line 3l8, while the other edge of the partition wall 311 is connected to a bottle receiving section 321 along a discontinuous fold line 322. The side wall section 3 and the bottom wall 3| 3 have a flap 329 formed along one and edge thereof and a flap 330 formed along the other end edge thereof, and these flaps have bellows folds formed therein so as to divide each flap into two sections that correspond in form and function to the sections of the flaps 29 and 30 of the carriershown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings. tition wall 311 and the connected bottle receiving section 32l have flaps 331 and 338 formed along their opposite end edges, and th'eseflaps are separated into sections by bellows folds so as to correspond with the sections into which the flaps 31 and 38 are-divided in the embodiment shownin Figs. 1 to 5.

The edge'of the bottle receiving section 321 that is opposite the edge defined by the fold line 322 is defined by a discontinuous fold line 325, and the elements of the bottle receiving section 321 are so formed as to 'aiford supporting flaps 352 and 361 that correspond with the flaps 52 and 61 of Fig. 1. The flaps 352 and 361 are however so formed as to afford integral extensions that merge to form a handle section 311. The handle section 311 extends to the separationline 3H and throughout its entire extent the handle section 311 has an appreciable cross sectional area so as to enable considerable weight .to be supported thereby.

In affording the handle section 311 as an integral extension of the flaps 352 and 36L the arrangement of slits and score lines in the bottle receiving section is somewhat different than in th'e embodiment shown in Fig. 1. Thus the lefthand edge of the flap 352 is formed by score lines 345, 346, and 341 that are arranged in the manner similar to the slits 45, 46 and 41 of. Fig. 1. The slit 341, however, merges with a slit 348A that is disposed perpendicular to the fold line 325, and the material to the left of the slit 343-forms a glue flap 326A that corresponds to a portion of the glue flap 26 of Fig. 1. The other or right- Similarly, the parflap 353 that is somewhat different in form than 1 the flap 53 .of Fig. 1. An additional glue flap 3238 that corresponds to the central portion of the glue flap 28 of Fig. 1 is afforded by slits 400, 4M and 402, the slits 400 and 402 being aligned with the fold lines 340 and 353 and extending from the fold line 325 to a point that is aligned with the edge 4030! the glue flap 323A. The embodiment of the invention shown. in Figs. 14 to 17 provides a flap 369 that corresponds generally in form-to the flap 89 of Fig. 1, and on the righthand of this flap 389 a cushioning flap 352 is provided. This flap is defined by a slit 350A that corresponds in its general location to the slit 350A, and this affords additional width. in the connection between the handle portion 311 and the flap 36L The other or right-hand side of the flap 3B[ is formed by slits 354, 355 and 358 that correspond to the form and location of the slits 54, 55 and 56 of Fig. 1, but the slit 355' merges with a slit 351A that is located perpendicular to the fold line 325. The slit 351A serves to define a glue flap 3260 that corresponds in function to a part of the glue flap 28.

The handle section 311 has a handle opening 318 formed therein so as to be spaced from the glue flap 3263, as defined by the slit 4M, and so as to be spaced from the separation line 3 i 0. The other section of the blank of Fig. 14 has elements that correspond in form and function to the parts included in the section that has just been described, and these elements have been indicated by the same reference numerals with the sufllx a in most instances. It will be observed however that the handle section 3lla has a handle opening 318a, the upper edge of which is formed by a score line 319 so as to define a flap 380 that may be forced through the handle opening 318 in the usual manner when the carton or carrier is to be lifted.

In the assembly of the carrier shown in Figs. 14 to 17, the flaps 329, 330, 331 and 333 are first folded onto the face of the blank that is shown in Fig. 14, and the blank is then folded along the line 3l8 into such a position that the free edge of the section 3 is disposed in alignment with the edge 403. The free edge of the section 3 is secure in this position by glueing the same to the glue flaps 326A, 3263 and 323C, and it is to be noted that if desired the free edge of the said wall section 3 may be cut away to afford glue tabs or sections 405A, 4053 and 405C that correspond in form with the glue flaps 326A, .3253 and 326C.

It will be recognized that the other section of the carrier has glue flaps 328A, 3283, and 328C, and the other section of the carrier is folded in the same manner so that the end edge or marginal portion of the side wall 3I2 is secured to these glue flaps. The carrier is then folded along the fold line 310 so that the partition walls 3|! and 3l8 are disposed in a back to back relationship, and such a relationship is also attained in respect to the handle sections 311 and 311a. These portions are secured in this relationship by glueing the flaps 352, 369 and 36l respectively to the flaps 352a, 369a and 38m, and the handle sections 311 and 311a are of course glued together. It will be noted that in this form of the invention, the sections thereof need not be separated along the line 3l0, since the upper edges of the glue flaps are'free along the lines 401 and 403. When the carrier'has thus been assembled it takes the form illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17 and is collapsed so that it may be readily shipped and handled. When the carrier is to be erected it is merely necessary to grasp the upper edges of the side walls 3 and M2 and to move the same downwardly and outwardly with respect to the handle 311A. When this is done, the several bottle retaining flaps at the ends of the bottle sections and the bottle receiving sections are moved automatically into their operative positions, and the bottle spacing flaps 353, 353a, 362 and 352a may then be moved into their downwardly pro- Jecting positions.

It will be recognized that the flaps 359 and 339a serve no particular function in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 14 to 17, except to afford additional glueing area to hold the parts together, and in view of this, the flaps 369 and 369a may be eliminated as has been described in the embodiment shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, or the material of these flaps may be utilized to afford additional bottle spacing flaps corresponding in form and function to the bottle spacing flaps I93 and I99 of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 6 to 8.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the novel carrier of th present invention may be economically constructed from relatively light weight material, andmay be readily assembled in a fiat or collapsed condition so as to facilitate storage and shipment thereof. Moreover, the weight of the bottles loaded in the carrier of the present invention is transmitted directly to the bottom wall on which the bottles are rested, so that th load supporting forces in the carrier of this invention are transmitted through sections of material that are of substantial area and nomical manner.

.which sections are not weakened by bending,

creasing or the like. Thus the carrier of the present invention, although made from relatively thin cardboard stock, is capable of being used several times to transport bottles to and from a store or the like.

It will also be apparent that the carrier of the present invention provides the necessary supporting elements in an economical manner, and particularly that the handle flaps or connections utilize material taken from certain of the bottle receiving openings. Thus the handle means in carriers made in accordance with the present invention may be afforded in a simple and eco- Moreover, the provision of handle means in accordanc with this invention may advantageously take many different forms so that the carriers may be easilyadapted to different conditions that may be controlling in the manufacture or use of the carriers.

The present invention also materially simplifies the loading or use of collapsible bottle carriers since means are afforded-for maintaining the carriers in erected condition during loading or other use thereof.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alteral7 tions as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a carton of the character describe formed from cardboard or the like material, a bottom wall section, a side wall section and a partition wall section- Joined along fold lines to opposite edges of said bottom wall section, a

bottle receiving section having a plurality of bottle receiving section formed to afford a plurality of transverse webs connected along fold lines at their opposite ends to said side wall section and said partition wall section and defining a plurality of bottle receiving openings between said webs, and handle flaps formed from material cut from said bottle receiving openings and extended upwardly in an integral and uncreased relation from said partition wall section.

3. In a carton of the character described formed from cardboard or the like material, a :bottom wall section, a side wall section and a partition wall sectionjoined along'fol'd lines to opposite edges of said bottom wall section, a bottle receiving section formed to afford a plurality of transverse webs connected along fold v lines at their opposite ends to said side wall section and said partition wall section and defining a plurality of bottle receiving openings between said webs, bottle cushioning flaps formed from a portion of the material out from certain of said bottle receiving openings and joined to adjacent webs along fold lines whereby such flaps may be bent into downwardly projecting positions, and handle flaps formed from other material cut from said bottle receiving openings and extended upwardly in an integral and uncreased relation from said partition wall section.

4. A carton of the character described, formed from cardboard orlike material and including, when erected, a pair of upstanding parallel wall portions, a bottom member joined along fold lines to the lower edges of said upstanding wall portions, a bottle receiving section joined along a fold line at one of its edges to one of said upstanding wallportions, a glue flap joined along a fold line to the other edge of said .bottle receiving tions, a bottle receiving section joined along a fold line at one of its edges to one of said upstanding wall portions, a glue flap joined along a fold line to the other edge of said bottle receiving section and adhesively secured in an upwardly extending relation, and handle means extended upwardly from said one of said upstanding wall portions.

6. A carton of the character described, formed from cardboard or like material and including. when erected, a pair of upstanding parallel wall portions, a bottom member joined along fold lines to the lower edges of said upstanding wall portions, a bottle receiving section joined along a fold line at one of its edges to one of said upstanding wall portions, a glue flap joined along a fold line to the other edge of said bottle receiving'section and adhesively secured in an upwardly extending relation to the adjacent face of, the other of said upstanding wall portions, and handle flaps formed from material cut from said bottle receiving section and extending upwardly in an integral and uncreased relationship from said one of said upstanding wall portions.

'7. In a preformed collapsible bottle carrier formed from cardboard or like material and including, in its collapsed condition, a bottle receiving section having a plurality of spaced transverse webs defining bottle receiving openings therebetween, a glue tab section joined along fold lines to said webs at one side of said bottle receiving section, a side wall section having one edge there-' of joined along fold lines to the other ends of said webs, handle flaps formed from at least a portion of the material cut from spaced ones of said bottle receiving openings and'joined in an integral and uncreased relationship to one of the sections to which said webs are joined along fold lines as aforesaid, a bottom wall section joined along one edge thereof to the other edge of said side wall section, a second side wall section having one edge Joined along a fold line to the other edge of said bottom wall section so as to dispose a border surface along the other edge of said second side wall in abutting relation to said glue flap means, and means securing said glue flap section to said border portion of said second side wall in a face to face relationship. v

8. lln a preformed collapsible bottle carrier formed from cardboard or like material and ineluding, in its collapsed condition, a bottle receiving section having a plurality of spaced transverse webs defining bottle receiving openings therebetween, glue tab means joined along fold lines to said webs at one side of said bottle receiving section, a side wall section having, one edge thereof joined along fold lines to the other ends of said webs and extending in substantially the same plane as said bottle receiving sec-tion, handle flaps formed from at least a portion of the material cut from spaced ones of said bottle receiving openings and joined in an integral and uncreased relationship to said side wall section along said one edge thereof so as to be disposed substantially in the plane of said side wall section and said bottle receiving section, a bottom wall section joined along one edge thereof to the other edge of said side wall section and disposed to lie against one face of said side Wall section, a second side wall section having one edge joined along a fold line to the other edge of said bottom wall section so as to lie substantially in the same plane as said bottom wall section and dispose a border surface along the other edge of said second side wall in abutting relation to said glue flap means, and means securing said glue flap means to said border portion of said second side wall.

9. In a bottle carrier formed from a sheet of cardboard or like material, a pair of side wall sections, abottom wall section joined at its opposite edges by fold lines to adjacent edges of said side wall sections, a bottle receiving section joined along one of its edges by a fold line to the other edge of one of said side walls, a glue flap joined along one of it edges by a fold line to the other edge of said bottle receiving section, said bottle receiving section having a plurality of bottle reeeiving openings formed therein with at least a part of the material from at least certain of said bottle receiving openings joined integrally and in an unscored relation to said other edge of said one side wall to afford handle flaps for the carrier, said sheet being bent along the score line between said bottom wall section and said one side wall section to dispose a marginal portion of the other side wall section in abutting face to face relation to said glue flap, and means adhesively securing said glue flap to the abutting marginal portion of other side wall section.

10. In a bottle carrier formed from an elongated and generally rectangular blank made from cardboard or like material and having a transverse separation line formed therein midway between the ends of the blank to define a pair of similar parts, each of said parts having a transversely extending glue flap section, a bottle receiving section, a partition section, a bottom wall section and a side wall section disposed in the order named between said separation line and the end of such part of the blank and joined to the adjacent sections along fold lines extended transversely of the'blank, said parts being bent along the fold line between the partition section and the bottom section thereof to dispose a border portion of the side wall in face to face abutment with the glue flap of the same part of the blank, said glue flaps being adhesively secured to the opposed border portion of said side walls, said bottle receiving sections having a plurality of bottle openings cut therein with at least a part of the material from certain of such opening integrally connected in an unscored relationship 'to the adjacent edge of the partition wall of the related part to thereby afford handle flaps when the carrier is erected, and said blank being bent along said separation line to bring said handle flaps and said partition sections of the two parts of the blank into registered back to back relationship, said partition sections and said handle flaps being secured together in such relationship and the material at said separation line being ruptured to enable separation of the glue flaps from each other to enable erection of the carrier. 11. In a bottle carrier formed from a sheet of cardboard or like material and including, when erected, a pair of side wall sections, a bottom wall section joined along fold lines at its opposite edges to adjacent edges of said side wall sections, a glue flap section, a bottle receiving section comprising a plurality of webs each joined at opposite ends along fold lines to said glue flap section and the other edge of one of said side walls, means securing said glue flap section to 9. marginal portion of the other one of said side wall sections, said bottle receiving section having a plurality of bottle receiving openings defined by said webs, and at least a part of the material from at least two of said bottle receiving openings joined integrally and in an unscored relation to the adjacent edge of one of the sections to which 'said bottle receiving section is joined by fold lines to thereby afford handle connections extended upwardly from one edge of said bottle receiving section, and a handle extending upwardly from said handle connections.

12. In a bottle carrier formed from a sheet of cardboard or like material and including, when erected, a pair of side wall sections, a bottom wall section joined along fold lines at its opposite edges to adjacent edges of said side wall sections, a bottle receiving section comprising a plurality of webs each Joined at one end along a fold line to the other edge of one of said side walls, glue flaps Joined along fold lines to the other ends of said webs, said bottle receiving section having a plurality of bottle receiving openings defined by said webs, and at least a part of the material from at least two of said bottle receiving openings being joined integrally and in an unscored relation to said other edge of said one side wall to afford handle connections extended upwardly from said One sidewall section, said sheet being bent along the score line between said bottom wall section and said one side wall sectionto dispose a marginal portion of the other side wall section in abutting face to face relation to said glue flaps, means adhesively securing said glue flaps to the abutting marginal portion of other side wall section, and an integral handle extending upwardly from said handle connections.

13. In a preformed collapsible bottle carrier, an elongated and generally rectangular blank made from cardboard or like material and havin! a transverse main fold line formed therein midway between the ends of the blank to define a Pair of similar parts, each of said parts havinga side wall section, a bottom wall section, a partition section, a bottle receiving section and a handle section disposed in the order named between the free end of the part and said main fold line and each joined to the adjacent sections along fold lines. extended transversely of the blank, said handle sections being narrower than the balance of said blank, said bottle receiving sections having webs defining a plurality of bottle openings cut in the bottle receiving section with at least a part of the material from spaced ones of such openings integrally connected in an unscored relationship to the adjacent edge of the partition wall of the related part and to said handle section to thereby aflord an upstanding handle when the carrier is erected, glue flaps Joined along fold lines to the ends of said webs remote from adjacent partition section, said parts each being bent along the fold line between the partition section and the bottom section thereof to dispose a border porion along the free edge of the side wall in face to face abutment with the glue flaps of the same part of the blank. said glue flaps being adhesiveiy secured to the opposed faces of said side walls, and said blank being bent along said separation line to bring said handle sections and said partition sections of the two parts of the blank into back to back relationship, and said partition sections and said handle section being secured together in such back to back relation.

14. In a bottle carrier formed from a sheet of cardboard or like material and including, when erected, a pair of side wall sections, a bottom wall section joined along fold lines at its opposite edges to adjacent edges of said side wall sections, a bottle receiving section comprising a plurality of webs each joined at one end along a fold line to the other edge of one of said side walls, glue flaps joined along fold lines to the other ends of said webs, said bottle receiving section having a side wall section, and handle means extending upwardly from said handle connections.

15. A bottle carrier made from cardboard or like material and comprising a, bottom wall, side walls extended substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall when the carrier is erected, handle means, and a plurality of webs'extended in spaced but substantially parallel relation between each side wall and the handle means, the spacing between adjacent webs on each side of the handle means aflording bottle receiving openings through which bottles may be passed to have the lower ends thereof rested on said bottom wall, each of said webs including relatively wide end portions respectively joined to a side wall and the handle means, at least selected of said webs having parts thereof formed from portions of the adjacent side wall and the handle means and having fold lines therein along which the severed parts of said webs may be folded to thereby aflord depending bottle cushioning portions efiective to reenforce such webs and which portions have corners formed thereon for engagement with said side walls to maintain said carrier in an erected condition.

16. A preformed collapsible bottle carrier formed from cardboard or like material and comprising a bottom wall, side walls, a handle portion, and bottle receiving sections extended between a side wall and the handle portion, each of said bottle receiving sections having a, plurality of bottle receiving openings afforded therein between webs spanning the space between the handle portion and a side wall and which webs are joined at their opposite ends to the side wall and the handle section along score lines of relatively protracted length, said webs being cut away along an edge thereof toward the medial portion thereof to thereby provide relatively narrow medial portions in the webs, bottle spacing flaps joined to at least certain of said webs along score lines at the other edges thereof and each having an edge spaced from the score line of such flap having a dimension greater than the width of said bottle receiving section, said flaps normally lying in the plane in which the webs are disposed and being ioldable to downwardly projecting bottle spacing positions to thereby'reenforce the medial portions of said webs and engage said side wall in downwardly spaced relation to said last mentioned score line to maintain said carrier in erected condition.

17. A preformed collapsible bottle carrier formed from cardboard or like material and comprising a bottom wall, side walls, a handle means,

and bottle receiving sections extended between opposite the bottle embracing edges thereon and along which score lines said flaps may be folded into angular relation with said webs to reenforce carrier is erected to thereby maintain the carrier.

in its erected condition.

18. In a carton of the character described formed from cardboard or the like material,' a bottom wall, a vertical side wall section and a vertical partition wall section joined along fold lines to opposite edges of said bottom wall, 'a bottle receiving section formed to afford a plurality of transverse webs connected along fold lines at their opp site ends to said side wall section and said partition wall section and defining a plurality of bottle receiving openings between said webs, bottle cushioning flaps formed from a portion of the material out from certain of said bottle receiving openings and joined to adjacent webs along fold lines whereby such flaps may be bent into downwardly projecting positions, at least certain of said flaps have corner portions thereon operable to engage one of said vertical wall sections to hold the carton in an erected condition, and handle flaps formed from other material cut from said bottle receiving opening and extended upwardly in an integral and uncreased relation from said partition wall section.

19. In a carton of the character described formed from cardboard or the like material, a pair of partition sections secured in back to back relationship, a pair of bottom wall sections joined along fold lines to the respective lower edges of said partition sections, a pair of side wall sections joined along fold lines to the other edges of the respective bottom wall section, a pair of bottle receiving sections having bottle receiving openings therein and each connected along fold lines along its opposite edges to adjacent partition and side wall sections, handle flaps formed from at least part of the material cut from said bottle receiving openings and extended upwardly in an integral and uncreased'relation from said parti--- tion sections, and handle means connected to said handle flaps and extended upwardly therefrom. 20. In a carton of the character described formed from cardboard orthe like material, a pair of partition sections secured in back to back relationship, a pair of bottom wall sections joined along fold lines to the respective lower edges of said partition sections, a pair of side wall sections joined along fold lines to the other edges of the respective bottom wall section, a pair of bottle receiving sections having bottle receiving openings therein and each connected along fold lines along its opposite edges to adjacent partition and side wall sections, handle flaps formed from at least part of the material out from said bottle receiving openings and extended upwardly in an integral and uncreased relation from said partition sections, an elongated flat handle made from flat tape or the lik having its opposite ends extended between adjacent handle flaps and adhesively secured therebetween.

21. In a carton of the character described formed from cardboard or the like material, a pair of partition sections secured in back to back relationship, a pair of bottom wall sections joined along fold lines to the respective lower edges of said partition sections, a pair of side wall sections joined along fold lines to the other edges of the respective bottom wall section, a pair of bottle receiving sections having bottle receiving openings the sin and each connected along fold lines along it opposite edges to adjacent partition and side wall sections, handle flaps formed from at least part of the material cut from said bottle receiving openings and extended upwardly in an integral and uncreased relation from said partition sections, an elongated flat handle made from tape or the like having its opposite ends disposed against the portions oi spaced ones of said handle flaps, and staples securing said ends of said flat handle to said handle flaps.

22. In a carton of the character described formed from cardboard or the like material, a pair of partition sections secured in back to back relationship, a pair 01' bottom wall sections joined along fold lines to the respective lower edges of said partition sections, a pair of side wall sections joined along fold lines to the other edges of the respective bottom wall section, a pair of bottle receiving sections having bottle receiving openings therein and each connected along fold lines along its opposite edges to adjacent partition and side wall sections, handle flaps formed from at least a part of the material cut from said bottle receiving openings and extended upwardly in an integral and uncreased relation from said partition sections, spaced ones of said handle flaps having grommets secured therein, and a handle' having engaging portions passed through and engaged with said grommets in a weight supporting'relationsliip.

23. In a carton of the character described formed from cardboard or the like material, a pair of partition sections secured in back to back relationship, a pair of bottom wall sections joined along told lines to the respective lower edges of said partition sections, a pair of side wall sections Joined along fold lines to the other edges of the respective bottom wall section, a pair of bottle receiving sections having bottle receiving openings therein and each connected along fold lines along its opposite edges to adjacent partition and side wall sections, handle flaps formed from at least a part of the material cut from said bottle receiving openings and extended upwardly in an integral and uncreased relation from said parti- 24 tionsections, an elongated flat handle made from flat tape or the like having its opposite ends extended between adjacent handle flaps and secured in fixed relation therebetween.

24. In a carton of the character described formed from cardboard or the like material, a pair of partition sections secured in back to back relationship, a pair of bottom wall sections Joined along fold lines to the respective lower edges of said partition sections, a pair oi! side wall sections joined along told lines to the other edges of the respective bottom wall section, a pair 01 bottle receiving sections having bottle receiving open ings therein and each connected along fold lines along its opposite edges to adjacent partition an side wall sections, handle flaps formed from material out irom at least certain of said bottle receiving openings and extended upwardly in an integral and uncreased relation from said partition sections, an elongated flat handle made from tape or the like having its opposite ends disposed against the faces on spaced ones oi said handle flaps, and staples securing said ends of said flat handle to said handle flaps.

WILLIAM H. ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,540,369 Sootcher June 2, 1925 1,733,663 Hale Oct. 29, 1929 2,273,266 I-Iimes Feb. 17, 1942 2,334,638 Metzger Nov. 16, 1943 2,337,197 Holy Dec. 21, 1943 2,339,278 Lyons Jan. 18, 1944 2,368,203 Crane Jan. 30, 1945 2,371,312 Potter Mar. 13, 1945 2,383,183 Fischer Aug. 21, 1945 2,397,898 Wesselman Apr. 2. 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 479,460 Great Britain Feb. 7, 1938 

